Emergency cutting device for vehicle safety belts

The present invention relates to an emergency cutting device for vehicle safety belts.

More specifically, the invention relates to a cutting device studied and realised for permitting to the passengers or driver of any kind of vehicle, such as a car, to be able easily freeing from safety belts in an emergency case.

As it is well known, substantially all traffic regulations of industrialised countries provide the compulsory use of safety belt. Particularly, it has been ascertained that is permits limiting consequences of road accidents.

However, although said safety belts are very important, they are in some cases dangerous. Particularly, it has been observed that in case of upturning of the vehicle, release button fails, preventing the driver or the passenger to quickly free him/herself to immediately abandon the vehicle in case of failure. The only way for vehicle driver of passenger to free from said safety belts would be that of cutting said safety belts.

The above situation has been also noted by firemen, frequently facing the situation of freeing the driver or passengers from safety belts cutting the same, to take them out from the vehicle.

In view of the above, it is object of the present invention that of permitting to the driver or to the passenger of a vehicle to be able to free from the safety belt independently from the operation of the release button, and to the rescue services to easy extraction operations from vehicle in case of accident.

Another object of the present invention is that of ensuring operation of the above device even in case of electric failures of the vehicle or of the feeding of the same.

It is therefore specific object of the present invention an emergency cutting device for vehicle safety belts, characterised in that it comprises locking means, acting on a safety belt so as to put the same under tension; means for cutting said safety belt; and operation means, operatively connected with said locking means and with said cutting means; said operation means activating in succession said locking means and said cutting means, so as to cut said safety belt, and then deactivating said locking means thus freeing said safety belt and then the user of the same.

Always according to the invention, said locking means can comprise a first and a second clamp, closable each other to lock said safety belt, and a first and a second piston, substantially parallel each other, coupled, respectively, to said first and said second clamp, to close and open the relevant clamp.

Still according to the invention, surface between said first and said second clamp locking said safety belt can be corrugated.

Furthermore, according to the invention, said cutting means can be interposed between said first and said second piston.

Advantageously, according to the invention, said safety belt can be introduced within a channel passing through a unit, said cutting means and said locking means being installed within said unit.

Always according to the invention, said device can comprise a further piston fixed to said cutting means for operating the same.

Still according to the invention, said cutting means can be comprised of at least a blade, preferably a steel blade.

Furthermore, according to the invention, said operation means can be comprised of a control unit connected with said locking means and with said cutting means, and a button electrically connected with said control unit.

Advantageously, according to the invention, said device can comprise acoustic and/or lighting warning means, connected with said button.

Always according to the invention, said control unit can activate said cutting means a plurality of times until cutting said safety belt.

Still according to the invention, said control unit can be connected with the airbag activation circuit, said device being activated by the explosion of said airbag.

Furthermore, according to the invention, said button can be protected by a door controlled by said control unit, said control unit opening said door by said airbag explosion.

Advantageously, according to the invention, said control unit can comprise timing means, said device activating after a pre-set time period from said airbag explosion.

Preferably, according to the invention, said device can comprise a buffer battery and can be provided close to the safety belt winding device, preferably on a vehicle upright.

Further according to the invention, said device can comprise sensors installed in the safety belt hook, so as to activate only when said safety belts are fastened.